Government

Segments of Second Street, Poplar Street and Plum Street will be closed to thru traffic as Phase I of the Second Street Reconstruction Project gets underway.  Parameters of the entire Second Street Reconstruction Project include Second Street from Spring Street to Madison Street, and Poplar Street, Plum Street and Orchard Street from Second Street to Third Street.  Crews will begin work on Phase I of the project which includes Second Street from Spring Street to Linden Street, and both Poplar and Plum Streets from Second Street to Third Street on Monday April 27, 2015.

During this construction project, motorists are encouraged to use alternate routes around the construction area.

Phase I of the project is expected to be completed by mid-May.      

Ryan Contracting of Elko, MN is the prime contractor for the $2 million project.

The regular meeting of the Northfield School Board was held on Monday, April 13, at 7:00 pm, in the high school media center. A full packet for the meeting can be found here. Highlights of the meeting included:

On the morning of April 14, 2015, the City Engineer opened bids on the construction of a Skateboard Park in Old Memorial Field.  There were three bids received and the lowest apparent bidder was Wally Hollyday Skateparks with a bid of $153,879.00.  The estimate from Pillar Design Studios, the designer, was $162,816.43.  City Council will be requested to accept the bids and award the contract at the April 21, 2015 Council Meeting.  Anticipated construction start date is yet to be determined; however, it is planned for completion this summer.

For additional information contact Brian Erickson, Assistant City Engineer at 507-645-3037

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The Mayor's Task Force on Youth Alcohol and Drug Use, in partnership with the Rice County Sheriff’s Office, the Rice County Chemical Health Coalition, Northfield Police and Faribault Police, would like to get the word out to Northfield community members about the TIP411 program in Rice County. Often community members don’t want to report illegal or risky activity for fear of getting involved. Through the TIP411 program, law enforcement agencies across Rice County can accept 100% anonymous crime tips via cell phone text messages. Our hope is that this resource will allow community members to reach out for help when they feel that their safety is threatened, or when they are concerned for their family, friends and neighbors.

Streets & Parks Supervisor T.J. Heinricy talks about our upcoming community Earth Day celebration in this short video:

http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/MediaCenter.aspx?CID=Public-Works-7#player

Mayor Dana Graham talks about Meadows Park and community gardens in this short video.

https://mn-northfield.civicplus.com/MediaCenter.aspx?CID=Minute-with-the-Mayor-13

The Northfield Arts and Culture Commission will sponsor two events in April surrounding the book “For the Love of Cities: the Love Affair between People and their Places” by Peter Kageyama.  On April 16 there will be a book discussion from 7:15 to 9:00 p.m. at Carleton College Great Hall, located in Severance Hall.  Philip Spensley of the ACC will facilitate the discussion.   Books can be ordered at Content Bookstore, 314 Division St. in downtown Northfield or requested at the Northfield Public Library.

It’s time to think Spring! 

T. J. Heinricy, Streets & Parks Supervisor, talks about the opening of our compost site on April 7 in this new short video.

http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/MediaCenter.aspx?CID=Public-Works-7

Mayor Dana Graham talks about Northfield's Beyond The Yellow Ribbon iniative in this short video. 

http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/MediaCenter.aspx?CID=Minute-with-the-Mayor-13

The Northfield School Board's regular meetings in February were held on Monday, February 9 and Monday, February 23, at 7:00 p.m., in the high school media center. 

Monday, February 9

MnDot is revising the State’s Passenger Rail Plan, and a regional grass roots initiative has succeeded in getting Northfield tentatively designated for passenger rail!  MnDOT is requesting public Comments on this proposal.

Two routes are proposed for study – both connect south central Minnesota to the Twin Cities using existing rail line through Northfield. In addition to restoring the historic passenger rail service to central Minnesota, the Northfield line continues south to Kansas City where it connects with three of Amtrak's long distance routes (Los Angeles, Denver and Dallas).

The City of Northfield received the 2014 Pavements Award for the Riverview Drive Reclamation Project at the Minnesota Concrete Council's annual awards event. This award is presented for cast-in-place concrete parking lots and local streets under 5,000 square yards in area. This project was a great example of a partnership to improve an extremely deteriorated pavement. The event was held on Thursday, February 26, 2015 at Midland Hills Country Club in Roseville, MN.

Philip Spensley, chair of he city’s Arts and Culture Commission, announces that this coming Friday there will be an artist reception in conjunction with the opening of the second professional artist's art exhibit in the main corridor of City Hall. Jill Ewald, Arts and Culture Commission member, is the curator.  A new schools art installation will also be on display on the second floor.  

Northfield City Council has embraced the promotion of artists who reside in the Northfield Area, and the beautification of the City through art in public places. As part of this, the renovation of City Hall included creating a gallery atmosphere in both levels of City Hall: professional artists show their work on the first floor and student work is on display on the 2nd floor. Both shows rotate. The second professional Show will open this Friday, Feburary 27, from 4-6 in City Hall. Snacks will be provided.

A large crowd gathered at St. Dominic Church Sunday to talk about the need for legislation allowing everyone to apply for a driver’s license, regardless of immigrant status.  Local members of ISAIAH, a statewide organization whose mission is to act collectively toward racial and economic equity, sponsored the gathering.

Following a lunch served by the Latino community, the crowd gathered in the St. Dominic sanctuary to listen to stories of local residents who reluctantly, but of necessity, drive without a license.  Father Denny Dempsy greeted the crowd.